‘Hello, I amSomanller. Who are you and what do you want?’
Aquitainchanged to his gnome form.
‘Hello,Somanller my name is Aquitain. I’m a citizen of Astaria. Llanloriansuggested that I find you as you might be able to help me.’
At the mentionof Llanlorian’s name several of the Llanlleans all spoke toSomanller at the time making it difficult to understand what any ofthem said.
Before shecould reply the strange creature spoke.
‘Well we allknow that is a lie. There are no people in Astaria and Llanlorianis quite mad. Let me have him. I’ll find out the truth.’
‘QuietAnsidian! We wish to hear what he has to say.’ repliedSomanller.
‘I have asignet ring given to me by Llanlorian to prove that I am fromAstaria and I can assure you that she is not insane. It is in asmall leather pouch hanging around my neck. If I might be permittedto take it out I will show you?’
‘I wouldn’ttrust him.’ hissed Ansidian. ‘He is a dangerous magic user.’
‘We are alldangerous magic users.’ countered Somanller.
‘Please show methe ring.’
Aquitaincarefully removed the small bag from around his neck and tipped thecontents onto the dusty floor. Several rings fell out and he sortedthrough them found the signet ring and handed it to the woman. Sheexamined it carefully and handed it back.
‘It is anAstarian signet ring.’
‘That provesnothing.’ said Ansidian angrily. ‘It could easily be a fake.Everyone knows that Astaria is a ghost town. No one lives thereexcept Llanlorian and she is crazy.’
Aquitainreplaced the rings in the pouch and said
‘It’s curiousthat you know so much about Astaria when you obviously haven’t beenthere. It’s not exactly a ghost town and she’s definitely notcrazy. I should know I was just talking with her just half an hourago.”
‘What does shelook like?’ asked Somanller.
‘She looks muchlike you do in spider form and like an old grey haired Elendariwoman in her alternate form.’
‘That’s apathetic description. Anyone could have guessed that.’ saidAnsidian.
‘Ansidian! Youare a guest here as is this person until we establish otherwise.Please keep quiet!’
‘Can youdescribe the patterns on her abdomen?’
Aquitain thoughfor a moment and described the main features of her patterns andtheir colours. Somanller seemed happy with his description.
‘How did youknow where to find us?’ asked Somanller.
‘Llanloriangave me the teleport marker location. She said you were related andmight be able to help me find a friend of mine called Garret but Inotice you have already found him. That’s him over there.’
‘Hmm. Perhapsyou should start from the beginning. I am particularly interestedin why you appear to be one of us but have no body markings whichwould identify your family. In fact your body markings are quitestrange and alien.’
Aquitainbegan.
‘A week ago Iwas a Newman wizard employed by the High Wizard of Mudrun toinvestigate many strange events that are occurring all over Mudrun.Unfortunately, I was careless and managed to get myself killed butwas reincarnated by a druid friend in the form in which you see mehere.’
‘That is mostunusual.’ said Ansidian.
‘The rules ofreincarnation state that you must receive a body from the world inwhich you are reincarnated. How then did you receive the body of aLlanllean as none live on Mudrun?’
‘I did notchoose the form of my current body as I was dead at the time nor amI wise enough to understand The Lady of the Jungle’s mind. I amsimply thankful to be alive. Do you know why I have been given thisbody, for if you do I would like to know myself?’
Aquitain’sanswer seemed to annoy Ansidian quite a lot.
‘No I don’t.You are not the one to ask the questions we are. Why are you andyour friend Garret in Moonmist?’
‘Ansidian! Thisis my last warning! Let Aquitain talk! If you persist ininterrupting you will be escorted out of this area,’ said Somanllergetting quite annoyed.
Aquitaincontinued.
‘A few days agoan object of great value was stolen from the High Wizard. Myinvestigations led to the person you have over there whose name isGarret. He runs a magic shop in a place called Templegate. While Iwas making inquiries about the stolen object some agents from TheQueen of Moonmist entered his premises and invited him to visit herto attend the Ball. He agreed to let me come along with him asthere was some evidence that the stolen object might have beentransported here.’
‘We teleportedto the Mudrun gateway entrance and were met by a troop of theQueen’s guards as an escort. Unfortunately we were separated justoutside the Mudrun entrance to the gateway during a skirmishbetween a group of several druids and a troop of Crin. The Elendariescort managed to get Garret through but I was left behind. Idecided to pass through the gateway to try and catch up with Garretbut was waylaid by Llanlorian.’
‘After a longchat she agreed to let me go and suggested I might come here toseek the help of Somanller.’
‘The stolenobject must have been of great value for you to dare to come here.Are you aware of how dangerous it is for offworlders here?’ queriedSomanller.
‘Yes. I assumedthat if The Lady had reincarnated me as a Llanllean like you thenit was for a reason. It was a sign from her that I would be adaptedto the conditions here. Llanlorian thought the same.’
‘Hmm … and whatis the valuable object you are seeking to find.’
‘The object iscalled a sceptre of lordly might. It is believed to have been ownedby the Queen’s Champion.’
There wassuddenly a murmur throughout the cave.
‘By theGracious Lady, you mean the Champion’s Sceptre is back in Moonmist.That could explain a few things. ’
‘These are morelies.’ screamed Ansidian angrily.
‘Everyone knowsthat the rebel nymph queen has the Champion’s Sceptre and she isunlikely to have given it to the High Wizard for safe keeping. Letme take him I will find out the truth.’
SuddenlyAnsidian cast sleep magic on Aquitain saying.
‘I think thatit’s time you had a sleep.’
Aquitainmentally shrugged it off and said ‘No, I’m not tired!’
Ansidian wasreally annoyed this time and attacked again with a powerful mentalblast intending
